Michelle Pennington is a glassblower and designer who owns and operates High Gravity Glassworks in Shreveport, Louisiana. Growing up in Toledo, Ohio—famously known as the Glass City—it was only a matter of time before she discovered the material that would shape her life’s work. Originally trained in graphic design at Bowling Green State University, Michelle took her first glassblowing class in her final semester and instantly fell in love with the fire, rhythm, and artistry of the process. Her passion led her to study at renowned craft schools including the Corning Museum of Glass and Pilchuck Glass School, where she worked with master artists such as Martin Janecký and Silvia Levenson. Influenced by the precision of Czech and Italian traditions, she honed her skills further through an Enhanced Graduate Teaching Assistantship at the University of Texas at Arlington, earning her MFA with a specialization in glass. Beyond the studio, Michelle is an avid traveler who seeks out new cultures, perspectives, and ways of life as a way to fuel her creativity and deepen her understanding of herself. Whether exploring a bustling city or a quiet corner of the world, she immerses herself in local traditions and art practices, constantly learning and finding inspiration for her own work. Today, Michelle continues to create expressive, handblown glass art and shares her knowledge by teaching glassblowing workshops at her studio. Her journey reflects a lifelong commitment to discovery—through fire, through craft, and through the wider world.